Summer Ionia heroin cases reaching closure

Three of four men arrested in August by the Central Michigan Enforcement Team in a raid on an Ionia house were in Ionia County 8th Circuit Court Tuesday.

Karen Botakaren.bota@sentinel-standard.com

Three of four men arrested in August by the Central Michigan Enforcement Team in a raid on an Ionia house were in Ionia County 8th Circuit Court Tuesday.JOHN STARKEYJohn Starkey, 49, was sentenced to five months in the Ionia County Jail, with credit for 119 days served. He also must pay standard fines, costs and fees, and will serve five years of probation.He had pleaded guilty to one count of controlled substance – delivery/manufacture of heroin less than 50 grams, a felony that carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.CMET seized nearly 1/2 ounce of drugs, including heroin, crack cocaine, suspected black tar heroin and marijuana packaged for sale in connection with a narcotics investigation at the house.A plea agreement capped incarceration at five months. Sentencing guidelines placed Starkey in the 0 to 17 months range.Starkey’s attorney, Patrick Duff, argued that one of the offense variables used to determine the length of Starkey’s sentence, OV 14 – Offender’s Role, should not have been scored at 10 points, because he was not a leader in a multiple offender situation.“The leader was (co-defendant Lonell) Robinson,” Duff said. “Mr. Starkey was a mule. His role was secondary.”When there are more than three co-defendants, there can be more than one leader, said Judge Suzanne Hoseth Kreeger.“Mr. Starkey took a very active role. When Mr. Robinson was behind the scenes, Mr. Starkey was in front,” Kreeger said.A “tremendous amount of drugs” was involved in the case, and a drug death led investigators back to Starkey and Robinson, she added, in ruling against Duff’s objection. “I find his role was secondary to Mr. Robinson, but he did take a leadership role.”Starkey asked to serve more time in jail in lieu of fees. Kreeger declined, saying it would result in a greater bill owed at the jail.“I will abide by the agreement, but if you are back before this court, you are looking at prison,” she said. “Drugs wreak havoc in people's lives and the community. It won't be tolerated.”PHILIP ST. JOHNS JR.Walt Downes, attorney for Philip St. Johns Jr., 30, told Judge Suzanne Hoseth Kreeger Tuesday in Circuit Court that St. Johns’ sentencing was set for Jan. 14, however, Downes is attempting to move it to Dec. 20.St. Johns pleaded guilty in September to one count of controlled substance – delivery/manufacture of heroin less than 50 grams. Additional charges were dropped in exchange for his plea.After violating his personal recognizance bond in early November, St. Johns entered the Straight Street addiction recovery program.Ionia County Prosecutor Ron Schafer said tentative scoring in sentencing guidelines places St. Johns in the 0 to 6 month range, and that St. Johns is being evaluated for Drug Court.“With respect to Michigan Sentencing Guidelines, it’s one of those things that are misleading and less than tough on people who sell heroin,” Schafer said. “It’s a 20-year felony, but the guidelines for someone like Mr. St. Johns, who doesn’t have a criminal history, who could get 0 to 6 (months), or even someone like Mr. Starkey, at 0 to 17, means jail only.”LONELL ROBINSONLonell Robinson, 27, entered a plea of guilty to one count of controlled substance – delivery/manufacture of heroin less than 50 grams Tuesday in Circuit Court. One count was dismissed pursuant to his plea, said Prosecutor Ron Schafer.Because of tentative scoring related to his criminal history, Robinson could receive up to 23 months, “which means we’d be sending him to prison,” Schafer said.Follow Karen Bota on Twitter @KarenB_ISS.